Well-placed sources claimed in briefings with the Daily News yesterday that the Midlands godfather was increasingly feeling marginalised from President Robert Mugabe’s inner circle.

So perturbed is the VP, the sources claimed, that he allegedly felt snubbed and humiliated by Mugabe after the nonagenarian appointed co-deputy Phelekezela Mphoko to act as president for the second consecutive time when the country’s long-ruling leader went on his annual leave last month.

As a result, the insiders added, Mnangagwa had allegedly recently sought private audience with Mugabe in the Far East, where the First Family is holidaying, to both affirm his loyalty to the nonagenarian and to curry favour with him.

“Eyebrows were raised in both government and the party when the president named VP Mphoko as acting president for the second time instead of Mnangagwa as has been the custom so far.

“VP Mphoko was the acting president when Gushungo (Mugabe) attended the Sino-African summit in South Africa last year, and was again handed the coveted baton stick when the president went on his annual leave.

“This is why Ngwena (Mnangagwa) is acting like a cat on a hot tin roof and hot-footing it to the Far East to try and pacify Gushungo,” one of the sources claimed.

Mnangagwa, who is identified with a Zanu PF faction doing battle with the party’s ambitious Young Turks known as the Generation 40 in the former liberation movement’s ugly succession war, is said by his allies to have posed for pictures with the first family in the Far East.

“Lacoste (Mnangagwa) went and complained to the president that he is being attacked by Mphoko and (party national political commissar Saviour) Kasukuwere.

“He used the opportunity to lobby the president and affirm his support for him.

“He is clearly keen to make the president realise that he is not the enemy but a loyalist,” another source told the Daily News yesterday.

Other sources close to Mnangagwa claim that the beleaguered VP is feeling particularly threatened by the ominous move by the Zanu PF women’s league to agitate for a woman deputy president — which could see him demoted to a lower position later this year.

The league, which is led by the influential First Lady Grace Mugabe, declared last year that a woman would be the country’s vice president this year and their choice for this position increasingly appears to be Senate president Edna Madzongwe.

Most insiders are agreed that such a move is more likely to impact negatively on Mnangagwa than Mphoko.

“It is now a question of when in 2016, not whether we will have a woman VP. Last December’s (Zanu PF) conference set a clear deadline that 2016 would be the year that gender parity would be realised in the presidium.

“Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing will stop women from realising their long-cherished dream, and that woman is likely to be Mai Madzongwe, and not Dr Amai (Grace), whom you guys wrongly accused of wanting to succeed the president,” one of the reliable sources recently told the Daily News.

Sources have also told the newspaper, that has accurately reported on the goings-on in the warring Zanu PF over the past four years, that a new wave of purges is looming and that these will target Mnangagwa’s allies such as outspoken legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena.

These allies of the VP stand accused of “disrespecting the first family and fanning factionalism in the party”.

Seemingly unhinged State media columnists have also gone into overdrive over Zanu PF’s deadly infighting over the past few weeks, taking advantage of Mugabe’s absence on holiday.

“Bishop Lazarus is tempted to name names because secret meetings are already being held at that farm but this is the festive season, so I better show some love. But zvikarema ndozvireva,” one of them who writes for the Sunday Times said cryptically.

Another source also claimed that there was a looming Cabinet reshuffle which was sending jitters down the spines of Team Lacoste.

“When the president returns he will shake-up the Cabinet. He wants people who work for the people and not those who are aiming to succeed him and are causing unnecessary tension in the party.

“Watch this space, some top ministers will be removed from their posts,” the source said.

Comments (24)

Intelligent old man. He once said non of faction leaders will rule this country and l guess that was no joke. One is down and the other is about to.

Mathew Mativenga - 11 January 2016

What speculation! Why is the assumption that Munangagwa went to beg Mugabe? Did anybody talk to either Munangagwa or Mugabe? What if he went there on invitation so that they could strategize away from the interference of the problem?The country is burning and you assume Mugabe went on a sleeping holiday? Perhaps he went on a working holiday and wanted/needed Munangagwa's input. Has that ever ocurred to you? Mareporter you spread rumours and falsehoods saka muchizosungwa. There is nothing amiss about Munangagwa and Mugabe having a working holiday. This looks to me like a planned thing and explains why Mphoko had to act so Munangagwa could be free to travel.

Grace Jones - 11 January 2016

So, Jones, you find joy when journos are arbitrarily arrested?

Macheka - 11 January 2016

Jones must be a ngwena apologist.Let us hear the truth from him.What exactly is the truth? Ngwena is human and is susceptible to being jealousy. What is so special about him making a complaint after the ommission ?

Khosa. - 11 January 2016

Nhema dzega dzega here saka if Ngwena beggs does taht dissolve G40 Mugabe's project to stop from Ngwena becoming Pres. Please think b4 reporting such lies if Ngwena begs thats short term and then what...You are the very person who said G40 going for the kill zvakaitika here ...Daily news G40 outlet and this is where Jonso spews his lies moreso because 29015 was a flopp. Jonso kurwadziwa kuti Ngwena is acting Pres why not lie about it. This information someone did not think thru this rubbish . State machinery is behind Ngwena watch and learn . NGWENA HAKUNA KWAANOENDA MARK NY WORDS

Nhema idzi - 11 January 2016

What does this cruel man want,live our Zimbabwe you enjoyed your killings long back ago.I pray you will never be our President because you do not deserve that?Go to hell you cruel man.You do no like Zimbabweans but you exploit and kill Zimbabweans go Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Zimbabwe - 11 January 2016

Whether Ngwena follows Mugabe out of space and orbit with him, we don' t care. The focus should be on how these gentlemen will improve our economy.

Mentalist - 11 January 2016

Well we all know Munangagwa is not so intelligent he is even not average and it does not surprise us that he can plead to a near hundred year old who is gaffe prone to serve his skin . One thing for sure is being very cruel and dangerous is not being clever and Munangagwa is just like that he will not survive politically without Mugabe should Mugabe die today Munagagwa will also die politically he is like a parasite when its prey die that is the end of it .

Diibulaanyika - 11 January 2016

No one in ZANU pf is capable of pulling Zimbabwe from its current sorry state. We now need to tape in the vast human talent outside politics. There are good leaders there who knows what to do if given the opportunity. The mess is now too big to be solved by politicians.

Be Warned - 11 January 2016

Beg grovel and lick all you like 'tis destiny for you to die with your king or be beheaded by him. Cruelty visits the cruel eventually!

Nooshie - 11 January 2016

President Mnangagwa to name new cabinet (Daily News 12 January, 2017)

Owinho 1980 - 12 January 2016

This shows the dilemma Mugabe is facing. During his life-time rule of Zimbabwe he was obsessed by remaining in power at the expense of Zimbabwe`s future. He made sure no Zimbabwean capable of being the future leader showed up on the map because he felt threatened. Now that time determined by nature for him to vacate and never to be seen again on the face of this earth is around the corner. He is panicky. His wife is giving him a torrid time and hence he is confused as how to steer his party - not to talk of the country. Changomirira zuva rekufa kuti zvichibve.

Masamba Akareyo - Tanganda - 12 January 2016

fake stories.dont believe this pple.Mnangagwa asked to be excused this holiday as he had issues at home ,this christmas holiday.bt still he had to fly out to brief president on the position of civil servants.the president insisted on being briefed directly by mnangagwa.yu must also understand that vp mnangagwa was the busiest in the presidium ,running government business in parliament and at munhumutapa building.so for anyone or for dailynews to suggest that he was snubbed is realy nonsense.he wanted to take a breather til parliament business opens.he has no time for rallies n all zanu activities.he has a full plate in running gorvenment.Most ministers report to him.most ministers want answers from him n he has to brief president 1st ,at times.Cdr Charamba is fully aware of this,as he is directly linked with the vp s activities.

viola gwena - 12 January 2016

Taura hako Viola that makes a lot of sense , coz how can a person fly out to beg nhema dzega dzega chero Kindergarten drop out can see thru the lies , even low IQ border line learning difficult does not even think twice about this rubbish story

Taura hako - 12 January 2016

Taura hako Viola that makes a lot of sense , coz how can a person fly out to beg nhema dzega dzega chero Kindergarten drop out can see thru the lies , even low IQ border line learning difficult does not even think twice about this rubbish story

Taura hako - 12 January 2016

what gavumende nhai vanhu? the country is on auto pilot to disaster. is there a government sure in zim?

zvirozviyedzwa - 12 January 2016

Shame on you reporter..... ur lies have been exposed, watch this: http://www.herald.co.zw/mnangagwa-now-acting-president/

KingZaka|| - 12 January 2016

Rubbish!!! Mugabe just wants to soften the Ndebele ppl by pleasing Mboko. He knows he's answerable to why he continues to give the shoas such a bad name

Realist - 12 January 2016

It seems Mugabe is the High Priest of Zanu PF satanic church. To his satanic followers Mugabe is chosen by the god of darkness not by man. Its sad that even those who are on the know of Zanu PF history pre and post independence have chosen to forsake truth for their stomach sake. What a pity! Any sane person knows that Mugabe's end is near but only Zanu PF maggots don't understand that. They see Mugabe as an devil immortal even if their on peers and grandfathers are dying. They see themselves visiting the former heroes acre to bury this devil incarnate. The question that is suppose to worry all Zimbabweans is what will these Zanu PF maggots do when Mugabe retires and his ancestors? The army and the police will have to abide by the constitution and reform or perish with Zanu PF. Doing wrong for 35years doesn't make it right and surely they will have their day in court.

Christ In Me - 14 January 2016

It seems Mugabe is the High Priest of Zanu PF satanic church and his followers Mugabe is chosen by the god of darkness not by man. Its sad that even those who are on the know of Zanu PF history pre and post independence have chosen to forsake truth for their stomachs sake. What a pity! Any sane person knows that Mugabe's end is near but only Zanu PF maggots don't understand it. They see Mugabe as a devil immortal even if their on peers and grandfathers are dying and there are burring them. They don't see themselves visiting the former heroes acre to bury this devil incarnate, Mugabe. The question that is suppose to worry all Zimbabweans is what will these Zanu PF maggots do when Mugabe retires and join his ancestors? The army and the police will have to abide by the constitution and reform or perish with Zanu PF. Doing wrong for 35years doesn't make it right and surely they will have their day in court.

Christ In Me - 14 January 2016

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